WOMAN'S SPHERE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20982, 19 September 1931, Page 1 (Supplement)

WOMAN'S SPHERE.

A LOOK BACKWARD. | BY WINIFRED M. PONDER. It is generally conceded that the position of woman has been immeasurably improved during the last generation or two. Should there be any lingering doubts, a brief incursion into a book entitled " Woman's Sphere and Work," written by Willia m Landcls, minister of Regent's Park Chapel, in 1860, will help to dispel them. The book is to-day distinctly entertaining, even if it is not, as its author originally intended, particularly instructive. From the dedication, " To E.L., who possesses the virtues here comihcnded, and is free from the faults censured lo an extent that has rendered her influence on the writer one of tho greatest blessings of his life," to the concluding paragraph it is filled with the conscious superiority of an unconsciously self-righteous man. The opening chapter deals with the position of woman as defined by her Creator, and lays emphasis on tile fact that she must not consider herself to be in any way the equal of man. Her position is secondary and dependent; "she owes to him the air she breathes and the name she bears. By what right,, then, could she deny him tho first rank'! Her position by birth is a position of humility." Sho is exhorted to bo his helpmeet and not his rival, to lighten and riot to increase his cares; she is to dress neatly and elegantly ... so as to render her person pleasing to her husband," but to shun the love of ornament, which is one of her besetting weaknesses. She then receives a, little warning that sho must not on any account expect to bo waited upon. She cannot very well bo an helpmeet for man who, so far from rendering hint assistance, is incapable of doing anything for herself arid actually does nothing, but requires to have everything done by others." The whole purpose of her creation was that she might at all times minister to her lord and master. The author very much deplores tho " existence of some who arc foolish enough to be desirous of rising above the position which, by their Creator, they were intended, and by nature are qualified to fill." " Woman's Mission—Man's Wants." This is tho attractive heading of chapter two. It very aptly opens by explaining: "Our purpose in this chapter is to infer the mission of woman frotn a consideration of tho wants of man." The wants of man appear to be many. He is subject to both bodily ailments and mental distresses. Cares and anxieties distract his mind; his brow is wrung with anguish and his body racked with pain. " Man needs woman's influenco to soothe him under his troubles." Secondly, man needs woman's influence for his encouragement." Tho many difficulties of the masculine daily round and tho depressing influences to which he is exposed make encouragement extremely necessary. Woman's mission is to speak words of comfort in a soft, musical voice, to tread with noiseless step, and generally, by her cheerful manner and countenance, dispel his sadness. Thirdly, " man needs woman's influence to soften him." That, probably, is where woman has been using her influence ever since, for a noticeable improvement is certainly to be observed. P itially, man needs woman's influence for his refinement and elevation," but this seems to be merely a continuance of the softening process, as we are informed, " whatever softeps him tends also, as the natural consequenco, to refine and elevate. Hero we pass on to the next chapter, which comforts us as follows: '-'Man's inferior we do not call her; man s subordinate she certainly is. Her position is one of humility, though not of degradation." That must have been consoling. Woman is considered just a little in this chapter. She is solemnly warned not to placo her faith in tho man who proves himself to bo either a reckless villain or a hopeless fool. Unfortunately, she is not instructed how to tell villains and fools before they are proven. She is also warned, though not so solemnly, to beware of flatterers and those who, by uttering extravagances, minister to her vanity. Woman's Nature. The temptation to quote here is irresistible : We would not say that in every case iti which woman occupies a public sphere she is thereby degraded. There may be great emergencies when she is required to mingle with 'men publicly, and to do men's proper work, and where tho motive, sanctifying the deed, preserves her from harm. But. where such a departure from her sphere is a result of choice, it is, we think, »n evidence, or perhaps we should say, both a cause and a consequence, of moral deterioration. . . . And as everything is beautiful in its place and season, so is woman most beautiful and useful when, like a modest flower, she blooms in tho privacy for which her nature fits her, and perfumes with the fragrance of her character the hallowed precincts of home. . . . Another kindred instinct. of woman's nature, which also marks her fitness for her mission, is her love of dependence. ... In her first love, her greatest joy is to sacrifice her wishes and her will to the man who has gained her heart: and she finds her happiness in her entire devotion to the happiness of others. This instinct not only reconciles her to her subordinate sphere, it make 3 her happiest therein. And this was written only seventy-one years ago. Marriage Relations. 'I ho heading of this chapter is " Woman's Mission in the Marriago and Maternal Relations," but those who expect to find here an intimate discourse are doomed to disappointment. Marriage, of course, is woman's mission, and tho whole purpose of the book, apparently, is to teach her how to become a good wife. Up to this point she is a maid. Tho author steers us delicately over the border into matrimony by saying, " And now, on the supposition of her having entered that relation . . The young wife is told that if her early training has been lacking in some of the essentials, she can overcome that disadvantage with a willing mind and a loving heart and by devoting careful attention and untiring perseverance to self-improvement. The first duty a wife owes to her husband is " affection—tender, cordial, undivided, abiding affection." Affection is a duty for tho wife: the husband's duty is to find ayy faults she may possess after her assiduous training. Tie ought not to pry into them too closely, but he certainly ought to notice them and speak of them as his Christian duty. He is asked not to bo too harsh with her, but gently and considerately to point out a fauit and suggest an improvement. If tho wife wishes to keep the affection of her husband, she must accept his rebukes with becoming meeknoss. Without an indelicate wish to invade his privacy, every loving wife should be interested in her husband's affairs. She should kindly sympathise in his success or disappointment; dress to please him; serve the dishes he has a preference for; and last, but by no means least, always place his handkerchiefs in the same corner of tho drawer, so that he shall not bo caused the slightest annoyance or inconvenience. One more quotation : You may think him unreasonable when he attaches importance to such little things: still, if he has a preference for the one above the other, it is your duty to gratify it; and . . . fo take care that it, is always attended to with such regularity and goodwill as lo convince) him that you have pleasure in meeting his wishes. If you neglect or refuse to do this, remember tho fault, for which you will have to answer is not the misplacing of a book or a pair of gloves, but all the domestic irritation which may ensue in consequence. Let us thank the powers that bo that wo live in this year of grace 1931. But what a. wonderful time the men must have had in 1860!